Swivel wire tie



Dec. 19, 1961 c. 1. WILLIAMS SWIVEL WIRE TIE Filed Nov. 15, 1956 Unite i States atent 3,013,323 SWIVEL WIRE TIE Chester I. Williams, 1501 Madison Ave. SE., Grand Rapids 7, Mich. Filed Nov. 13, 1956, Ser. No. 621,928 6 Claims. ((11. 25--131) This invention relates to improvements in construction of monolithic structures such as concrete walls, foundations, etc., by the use of Wire ties for assembling forms, and more particularly it relates to an improved means and method for fastening together oppositely spaced apart forms and similar objects, and is an improvement over my concrete form appliance disclosed and claimed in US. Patent No. 2,048,151 granted July 21, 1936; and my concrete form construction disclosed and claimed in US. Patent No. 1,851,339 granted March 29, 1932. This invention is also a particular improvement over my wire tie as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 394,090, filed November 24, 1953, for Wire Tie (now abandoned), and is also a further improvement over my wire and tie and wedge therefor, as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 579,198 filed April 19, 1956.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved wire tie construction, similar to those of the aforementioned co-pending applications, which can be quickly connected to or disconnected from inside rods to form the proper wall thickness, and in which the outer ends of the rods are reusable.

With the wire tie rod of the aforementioned application, Serial No. 394,090 (now abandoned), it was found in field use that the cone construction thereof, which was separately fabricated and afiixed to the outer tie rod by staking or brazing, because of the high torsional stresses in detaching the rod from the inner rod after the concrete was set, tended to cause the outer wire tie rod thereof to fail at the end of the thread of the rod for affixing the cone contiguous to the face of the cone at a juncture with the threaded end of the outer tie rod.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an outer tie rod in which the conical end portion is relatively movable with respect to the inner end of the tie rod upon which the conical end portion is mounted, so that a reduced peripheral surface is formed between the end of the tie rod and the portion of the outer tie rod upon which it is journaled so that the force required will be specifically that required to break the threaded connection of the outer tie rod and the outer end of the inner tie rod, and after which the rotation of the outer tie rod, in view of the swivel mounting of the conical end portion thereon permits the conical surface of the conical end portion to be detached from its complementally formed conical-shaped opening, in the set concrete.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tie rod construction of this type in which a reduced conical section is formed which also reduces the bonding surface of the conical end embedded in the poured and set concrete when the concrete forms are detached from the monolithic structure.

.Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wire tie construction in which the thread of the rod protrudes in the hole left by the smaller conical swivel spacer of the improved wire tie, and wherein an enlarged portion of the conical spacer leaves a sufficient opening to insure a patch which will not drop out and which will stand the hammer test.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved wire tie construction of the swivel type which requires less than three complete turns for removal as r 3,013,323 Patented Dec. 19, 1961.

in I

the inside tie rod and the threaded conical end utilizes a double lead thread.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for use with the improved swivel wire tie of this invention, the improved wedge construction, as disclosed and claimed inmy co-pending application Serial No. 579,198, which is provided with indicia to permit the same setting for the wedges used with the outer tie rods to correspond to predetermined lumber sizes used in the fabrication of the forms, and that the hardware on the form may be preset to standards found necessary in the erection of the forms; and which after erection, if desirable, may have the wedges reset at another predetermined setting.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved inner end construction on the outer tie rod for spacing the sheathing of the concrete forms, which is integrally formed from the metal of the inner end of. the outer rod to swivelly receive a conical-shaped con{ struction which moves relatively with respect to the outer tie rod when the outer tie rod is detached from the inner tie rod; and also to provide an improved outer end of the outer tie rod wherein the outer tie rod is operatively connected to the swivel cone-shaped member and the outer end thereof is complementally shaped to detachably re ceive the improved wedge construction. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an im-f proved wire tie construction in which there is a substantial saving in replacement cost since only the tie rods are; lost in the wall, and also to provide additional saving by the improved forged or upset construction of the inner end of the outer tie rod for operatively receiving the swivel cone-shaped member in the fabrication of the completed outer tie rod and including the swivel cone-shaped member movably afitxed to the inner end of the outer tie rod.;

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cone member adapted for swiveling on the inner end of the outer tie rod and which may be suitably formed v by molding, forging, upsetting or machining from suitable material.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of outer tie rod construction in which the inner end of the outer tie rod is conically shaped but a portion of the inner end of the outer tie rod is permitted to have relative swivel motion with respect to the longi tudinal axis of the outer tie rod. if;

A further object of the invention is to provide an im-. proved outer tie rod construction for a wire tie construction in which a swiveling and conical-shaped member is readily attached and detached to the inner end of the outer. tie rod but may be afiixed in its position to prevent 1ongitudinal movement of the swiveling and conical-shaped member with respect to the longitudinal axis of the outer tie rod and yet permit rotational movement of the swiveling and conical-shaped member with respect to the 10:1 gitudinal axis of the outer tie rod.

In order to accomplish the various objects of the invention, I have provided as one embodiment of my improved wire tie construction, the improved constructionbly and disassembly. To the threaded ends of the inner, tie rod, there are attached substantially three-eighth inch diameter outer tie rods having at their inner ends a swivel cone preferably journaled upon an upset portion of the outer tie rod, in which the upset portion is integrally formed from the material of the outer tie rods for attaching to the complementally threaded outer ends of the inner tie rods the threaded upset portion of the outer tie rods.

The distance between the enlarged faces of the swivel, cone mounting of the outer tie rods when attached to the'inner tie rod correctly spaces the sheathing of the forms to provide the correct wall thickness. The length of the outer rods correspond to the lumber dimensions of the form of the sheathing, studding and waler members, and also that of the wedge used for removal of the outer rods and the attaching thereof to the inner tie rods. The wedge which forms no part of the particular invention with respect to the improved form of swivel wire tie as it is particularly disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 579,198 for Wire Tie and Wedge Therefor, filed April 19, 1956, except insofar as an improved combination of swivel wire tie and wedge therefor is provided. The wedge is formed with a keyhole opening for the assembly of the wedge to the outer rod, and the slot of the wedge is complementally formed to a flattened portion of the improved outer swivel tie rod, permitting the wedge, when afiixed to the outer tie rod, to serve as a wrench. The inclined outer face of the wedge contiguous to the slot therein is provided with indicia to permit the pre-determined setting of the wedge for certain lumber sizes, and also permit the wedges assembled to the tie rods of a concrete form construction to be set at a predetermined setting in order to have uniform setting of the wedges for the particular concrete form construction. The inner tie rod may be provided with ears against which the swivel cones abut to insure exact spacing of the sheathing when the cones of the outer rod are assembled on the inner rod.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation, partly in section, illustrating the wire tie construction of this invention utilized in the construction of a monolithic wall construction;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation, partly in cross-section, of a completed wall with the forms removed illustrating the conically shaped openings formed in the wall at the inner ends of the inner tie rod and with a patch applied to one of the openings;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in elevation, partly in crosssection, illustrating a preferred form of an outer tie rod formed with a swivel-type, conically shaped spacer in which the mounting therefor is formed from upset material of the outer tie rod, and also an integral upset outer end from the material of the tie rod for detachably afiixing a wedge thereto;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in elevation, partly in crosssection, illustrating the tie rod of FIG. 3 but rotated 90 therefrom to illustrate the upset outer ends for attaching a wedge thereto, and also illustrating the threaded end of the inner tie rod connected to the upset portion of the outer tie rod on which is swivelly mounted the conically shaped member;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in elevation, partly in crosssection, illustrating another embodiment of the outer tie rod swivelly mounted on the upset end of the outer tie rod, and also an integral upset outer end from the material of the tie rod for detachably aflixing a wedge thereto;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in elevation, partly in crosssection, illustrating the tie rod of FIG. 5 but rotated 90 therefrom to illustrate the upset outer ends for attaching a wedge thereto, and also illustrating the threaded end of the inner tie rod connected to the upset portion which is conically shaped and complementally formed to the conically shaped member or spacer;

FIG. 7 is a view in elevation of the inner end of an outer tie rod illustrating another embodiment of the invention, in which the inner end is substantially cone shaped and integrally formed from the material of the outer tie rod and upon which a swiveling member of the substantially cone-shaped member is mounted;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the outer tie rod of FIG. 7 illustrating a swiveling member atfixed to the outer tie rod contiguous to the conically shaped spacer;

FIG. 9 is a view in elevation illustrating the annular swiveling member opened up prior to aflixing to the outer end of the tie rod of FIG. 7; and,

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view in elevation, partly in cross-section, illustrating another embodiment of the outer tie rod comprising an integral upset portion at the inner end upon which a swivelling, conically shaped spacer is adapted to be detachably afiixed, and also an integral upset outer end from the material of the tie rod for detachably atlixing a wedge thereto.

Referring more particularly to the figures of the drawing, an improved wire tie or waler rod construction 10 is shown assembled to form constructions 11 which are assembled with the improved wire tie construction to provide a concrete form construction for the pouring of a monolithic wall. The form construction 11 comprises the usual sheathing 12, studding 13, and waler members 14. The wire tie 10 preferably, comprises an inner tie rod 15 having a crimp 16 to prevent turning of the tie rod when cast within the concrete, and also to insure a watertight seal. The tie rod 15, referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10 is provided with oppositely formed ears 17 at each end of the rod formed by staking the rod with a suitable tool to form the cars from the metal of the rod. Each end of the rod is provided with a double lead thread 18 for fast assembly and disassembly to and from the integrally upset portion 19 of the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 of an outer tie rod 20, at each end of the inner tie rod to provide the completed wire tie. A conically shaped member 21, shaped as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 including a counterbore 22 complementally formed to receive the integrally upset portion 19 of the outer tie rod 20. The dotted portion 23 which extends beyond the outer end of the upset portion 19, when assembled to the upset end 19 of the outer tie rod is preferably assembled so that the conically shaped member 21 is assembled to the tie rod 20 prior to the upsetting of the outer end 24 which will be described later. When the conically shaped member 21 is assembled in place, the dotted end portion 23 is either staked over in a suitable press, peened over by hand, or spun over to form the annular portion 25, enclosing the upset portion 19, but permitting relative end play between the upset portion 19 and the conically shaped member 21, and also being so affixed as to permit the conically shaped member 21 to swivel relatively about the longitudinally axis of the tie rod and the upset portion 19. Therefore, the improved wire tie construction 10 of this invention may be considered as being formed of three parts: the inner tie rod and the two outer tie rods, wherein the usual wire tie rod, a rod twenty-six inches overall in length is required to pour a normal eight inch wall, and after the wall is poured, it has been normal procedure to break off the outer nine inches of each end of the tie rod, which is of no use and is scrap. It is also evident that with this improved form of swivelling tie rod construction, as well as the forms of improved tie rod constructions as disclosed and claimed in my aforementioned invention, the outer tie rods, which are usually the scrap ends of the conventional wire tie rods, may be reused again and again with the inner rods to which they are assembled in constructing the forms remaining integrally cast within the monolithic wall.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the improved outer tie rod 20 over that as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 394,090 filed November 24, 1953, (now abandoned) and also the outer tie rod as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 579,198 filed April 19, 1956, is preferably formed from cold rolled high tensile steel rod or wire stock having a diameter varying within the range from 0.444 plus or minus 0.002" as one particular form of the invention. The integrally upset portion 19 is threaded at 26 to detachably connect the complementally formed threaded end 18 of the inner tie rod 15 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The threaded upset portion 19 is provided with a double lead five-sixteenths inch threaded opening 27 to receive the complementally formed threaded ends 18 of the inner tie rod 15. The outer end of the outer tie rod is formed with a substantially conically shaped head or button 28.

In order to form the head 28, it is preferred to fabricate the head and the flattened portion 29 in one operation by cold forging either in an upsetting machine or other form of heading device to the shape as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The fabrication of the head and flattened portion at the outer end of the tie rod forms no part of this invention, as it is particularly disclosed and claimed in my aforementioned co-pending application Serial No. 579,198 filed April 19, 1956, and is only herein disclosed to fully describe the improved form of swivelling outer tie rod construction insofar as a new combination is formed with the inner tie rod, the wedge members and the form construction. For the particular outer tie rod as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the end diameter of the head 28 is preferably /2, tapering to the large diameter thereof of substantially W plus or minus to provide a flanged surface 30 for engagement with an inclined face 31, FIG. 1 of a wedge construction 32 in the assembly of the Wire tie or waler rod construction to the waler members 14 of the form construction 11 of FIG. 1. The wedge construction 32 also forms no part of this invention and a suitable wedge construction, as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 394,090 filed November 24, 1953 (now abandoned) or that as disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 579,198 filed April 19, 1956, may be used and has been included herein to provide an improved construction and novel combination of a wire tie construction including swivelling outer wire ties and an inner wire tie rod, and in combination therewith, a wedge construction as particularly disclosed and claimed in the aforementioned applications which are co-pending. The button 28 is provided with a V-shaped flange 33, FIGS. 3 and 4, and the apex 34 is substantially one-fourth of five-sixteenths of an inch from the circular face 35 of the button to suitably strengthen the head against any shearing action with respect to the transverse cross-section of the flattened portion 29. The angle alpha (CC) formed by the V- shaped flange 33 as shown in FIG. 3 at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the tie rod is preferably 14 which is the same angle as the inclination of the inclined face 31 with respect to the inside face 36 of the wedge construction 32. Therefore, with the outer tie rod in the position as shown in FIG. 3, when assembled to the wedge 32 as shown in FIG. 1, the face 37 would abut the inclined face 31, if the tie rod construction is assembled to vertical forms. If the tie rod should be reversed from the position as shown in FIG. 3, the other face 37' would then abut the inclined face 31 of the wedge. If the sheathing 12 was so erected to provide a battered surface of 14, then with the rod in position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the face 37' would contact the inclined face 31 of a wedge assembled to a battered form construction. It is also possible because of the slight radius at the apex 32, that the outer tie rod 20 may be used with intermediate battered surfaces from vertical to a 14 batter, though it is to be understood that the outer tie rod and its button structure may be complementally formed for different angles of batter and for different inclination of the wedge surface.

The button or head 28 which is integrally formed on the outer end of the outer tie rod has formed, contiguous to the inner face thereof, the flattened portion 29 which may be used with any standard wedge and which is also complementally formed for use with a keyhole slot construction (not shown) of the improved wedge construction 32, FIG. 1. For a complete disclosure of the im proved wedge construction 32, reference is made to the aforesaid co-pending application Serial No. 579,198, filed April 19, 1956. The flattened portion 29 also serves to prevent the button 28 from becoming displaced or sheared from the end of the rod. It is preferred to form the flattened portion through the thickness thereof as shown in FIG. 4 substantially and the length thereof as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 from the apex 34 to the edges 38, onehalf inch. The width of the flattened portion between the curved faces 39 is preferably 0.610 although it may vary within the range from 0.625 maximum to approximately 0.610" minimum. It is preferred to form the button construction 28 and the flattened portion 29 and inclined faces 40 in one operation, either by cold heading or hot heading, if desired. In the upsetting or forging operation, it is to be understood that the button and flattened portion, may be formed in one or several operations depending on the type and size of the heading machine. It is also to be understood that the button and flattened portion may be formed either in a press, upset header, or other suitable heading device to the required shape without departing from the scope of the invention.

The forged surfaces of the button and the flattened portion may be used for various indicia (not shown), for example, the face 35 may have integrally formed thereon either in intaglio or by embossing with suitable dies the particular size of the outer tie rod, for example, the length between the apex 34 and the annular face 41 of the conically shaped member 21. This dimension varies with respect to the width of the sheathing, the studding 13, and the waler members 14. These dimensions may vary within the range of 8 /3, 8%, and 4%". The 8 /8" and 4%" lengths are common to concrete forms used in the United States and Canada, and the 8%" is used preferably in the United States. These dimensions may also vary somewhat and, in some instances, 8 /1" is used in Canada and 8 /2" in the United States. On one face of the flattened portion, there may be integrally formed by suitable dies in the heading operation, indicia indicating the manufacturer, and on the opposite face there may also be integrally formed indicia Pat. Pend. It is also within the scope of the invention, that other insignia may be used or the surfaces may be free from insignia.

Although it may be preferred to form the integrally upset portion 19 first, and place the conically shaped member 21 thereon and affix it in place as described above, after which the button head 28 enter tie rod may be formed as previously described above with respect to the button head 28, and associated flattened portion 29, it is also within the scope of the invention that the outer end may be formed first, after which the conically shaped member 21 may be mounted on the tie rod and thereafter the inner end of the tie rod fabricated by upsetting the integral portion 19 as illustrated, FIGS. 3 and 4, after which, the outer end 23 of the conically shaped member 21 is then formed as shown in the solid position, forming the annular portion 25 for affixing the conically shaped member 21 in position. In either case, it would be preferable to then tap the threaded opening 27 so that the threads 26 would not be harmed in affixing the conically shaped member 21 in position on the upset portion 19. It is also to be understood that in upsetting the upset portion 19, a portion of this metal may be formed from the opening to be threaded, and after forming, the reduced opening of the forging or upsetting operation may be drilled to high polish is given to the surface upon which will be swivelly mounted the conically shaped member 21. The die for the upsetting machine is preferably formed to produce a shape as illustrated at the right hand side of FIGS. 3 and 4, for the upset portion 19, and in the same operation, if desired, there may be partially formed the opening 27 which later may be suitably drilled and tapped to complementally receive the 5& double lead thread of the inner tie rod 15. The particular length from the annular face 41 to the inner end 42 is 1 /2 for the size of the tie rod being described. The maximum diameter of the annular face 41 is A3". The inner end 42 is substantially in diameter. The opening 43 provides sufficient clearance for the diameter inner tie rod 15. The thickness of the annular portion 25 which is spun over is 2 of an inch. The integrally upset portion 19 is preferably %s long and is chamfered at 44. The outer diameter of the upset portion 19 is substantially and the counterbore 22 of the conically shaped member 21 is so formed as to provide suitable clearance so that the conically shaped member 21 may be readily swivelled with respect to the upset portion 19.

The conically shaped member 21 may be formed from screw stock of steel or suitable carbon content, upset or forged to the shape as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in crosssection or machined to the shape shown in an automatic screw machine, or it may be die cast from aluminum or other suitable material or molded from suitable material to the preferred shape whereupon it may be finished to provide the tolerances required.

After the heading operation of the integrally upset member 19, the threaded opening 27 may be formed in the same operation to a particular size to utilize the metal thereof for assisting in the upsetting of the integrally upset portion 19, after which the opening may be drilled to the size to be later tapped or threaded to receive the five-sixteenth inch double lead thread 18 of the inner tie rod 15. The integrally upset portion 19 upon which is swivelly mounted the conically shaped member 21 is preferably formed as shown so that when the outer tie rods are assembled to the inner tie rod and the concrete poured, a frusto conical opening 46 substantially 1 /2" long is formed in the cast concrete as illustrated in FIG. 2 upon removal of the outer tie rod and forms. This leaves the threaded ends 18 extending substantially 1.2 within the comically shaped openings, after which the openings may be provided with a concrete patch 47 and the threaded ends 18 of the rod permit the patch to be afiixed thereto so that it will not drop out and the patched opening will withstand the so-called hammer test.

Referring to FIG. 1, the improved wedge construction 32 which is disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 579,198 filed April 19, 1956 and the wedge construction of my previous co-pending application, Serial No. 394,090 filed November 24, 1953 (now abandoned) may also be utilized in the wire tie construction of the scope of this invention. It is preferable to form the wedge construction 32 as a casting from malleable iron, cast steel, or semi-steel; or as a pressed steel member, or as a forging from suitable material to prevent breakage, although it may be equally formed from nonferrous metal such as brass or aluminum; and it is shaped, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and as disclosed and claimed in the aforementioned co-pending applications, so that it may be suitably used as a wrench in atfixing the outer tie rods 20 to the inner tie rods 15 in assembling the forms for the pouring of a monolithic wall construction. The wedge 32 is preferably formed with a keyhole slot (not shown) in which an opening (not shown) is complementally formed to receive the button 28 of the outer tie rod, and in which the slotted opening is complementally formed to receive the flattened portion 29. With the flattened portion 29 within its complementally formed opening, and with the wedge 32 assembled as illustrated in FIG. 1, the wedge 32 forms a suitable wrench for assembling and disassembling the outer rod to one end of the inner rod 15. The wedge 32 is provided with an inclined surface 31 for case in the assembly of the wedge to the flattened portion so that, when assembled, the distance between the inner face 36 of the wedge 32 and the inner surface 41 of the conical member 21 is equivalent to the lumber dimensions of the sheathing 12, studs 13 and waler members 14, whereas the wall thickness between the inner faces of the sheathing is equal to the distance of the length of the assembled conical members 21, and the length of the inner rod 15 between the ears 17 against which the conical members 21 abut. The wedge 32 is suitably shaped to reduce the weight of the casting and is also provided with a grip-like portion 49 which serves as a handle portion when the wedge is used for a wrench, and may also be suitably tapped with a hammer if desired, for tightening or loosening the outer tie rod in the assembly or disassembly of the forms.

The preferred improved construction of the wedge 32, as disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 579,- 198 over that of my other co-pending application Serial No. 394,090, is that the inclined face 31 is provided with a series of indices (not shown) in intaglio on opposite edges of the keyhole slot (not shown) which serves as calibrations. The indicia permits the carpenter, foreman or other supervisor, in the erection of the concrete forms, to select the position most suitable for the type of lumber being used, whereupon he could request the men erecting the form to use that setting, for example, the number 3 position of numbers positions, 1 to 5 of the indices, in tightening the wedges. This would more or less eliminate the personal element involved wherein one man may drive his wedges harder than another, thus tieing a wall more in some places than in another, and possibly resulting in a warped surface condition of the poured structure. An impact end 50 substantially rectangular in cross-section and including a portion of the fiange 51 may be struck with a hammer or other suitable tool in driving the wedges to the preselected position from one through five. When the wedge 32 is assembled in its final position, if desired, double headed nails 52 may be assembled in openings (not shown).

In assembling the improved wire tie construction to the members of the concrete form, the button 28 is inserted through an opening 54 complemental thereto in the sheathing 12, after which the outer tie rod on opposite sides of the form are threaded in position so that the conical members 21 abut the ears 17 of the inner tie rod 15. The outer tie rods 20 may be assembled in this manner using the wrenches or wedges 32, and as the studding 13 for the sheathing is assembled with the walers 14, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the wedges 32 may be finally rotated to firmly clamp the members of the form construction between the faces 41 of the cone-shaped members and the faces 36 of the wedges, after which, if desired, the wedges may be affixed to the waler members 14 by double-headed nails 52 inserted through the openings (not shown) of the wedges. After the concrete has been poured and allowed to set and the forms are removed in order to detach the outer rods 20 and the members of the forms, the nails 52 are detached, after which the wrenches are rotated to detach the outer rods from the threaded ends 18 of the inner tie rods 15. As the outer tie rods are backed off, the forms are also loosened from the outer face of the cast concrete and then the wedges 32 may be detached by knocking the wedges upwardly with the flattened portion 29 in the keyhole slot (not shown), permitting the buttons of the outer tie rod to become aligned with the openings (not shown) of the wedges, after which the wedges may be detached, and the Waler members, studding, sheathing disassembled with the sheathing being detached from the tie rod 20 through the openings 54. When it is desired to finally remove the tie rods 20, they may be further detached by affixing the wrench to the flattened portion 29 and detaching the outer tie rods completely so that the conical openings are left within the cast concrete 55, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The opening may then be suitably patched by the patches 47 as previously described. If it is desirable to reuse the forms without dismantling; the sheathing, studding, and waler members may be held in assembled relationship by outer tie rods 20 and wedge members 32 afiixed thereto. The assembled forms are assembled together by connecting the inner tie rods to aligned outer tie rods assembled to the forms.

With the improved swivelling tie rod of this construction over that of the outer tie rod as disclosed and claimed in my aforementioned co-pending application Serial No. 394,090 filed November 24, 1953, (now abandoned) and the additional improvement in another of my co-pending applications Serial No. 579,198 filed April 19, 1956, and wherein the improved outer tie rod construction of this invention has the conically shaped outer end 21 swivelly formed as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the torque required in removing the outer tie rod after the concrete has been poured and set is much less. The reason for this is that the outer tie rod as it is rotated swivels within the conically shaped member 21 which because of its larger peripheral surface is held in place by the concrete which may bond thereto, and as the upset portion 19 is free to rotate within its complementally formed opening 22 within the conically shaped member 21, the threaded end of the outer tie rod and the complementally formed threads 18 of the inner tie rod may be easily broken apart. Upon further rotation of the outer tie rod to remove the outer tie rod, the conically shaped member 21 is then backed out of the complementally formed opening 46 in the set concrete with less torque than would be required if the conically shaped member 21 was integrally affixed to the outer tie rod 20 as in the previous embodiments of my invention in the above-mentioned co-pending applications. The integrally upset portions 19, in addition to reducing the bearing surface and the torque required to detach the outer tie rod from the inner tie rod, also prevent the conically shaped portion 21 from being twisted off with respect to the junction of the rod-like portion of the outer tie rod and the annular face 21 since the conically shaped member 21 is swivelly mounted with respect to the upset portion 19 and the outer tie rod. Further.- more, as the outer diameter of the integrally upset portions 19 is substantially only a little larger than the diameter of the outer tie rod, it does not have a tendency to twist off the outer tie rod at the junction 44 with the integrally upset portion 19, and the chamfer or fillet 44 overcomes any additional tendency to break off because of a sharp juncture between the parts. Furthermore, at the beginning of the removal of the outer tie rods from the inner tie rods, it is only necessary to break the threaded connection and this torsional force is less than would be required to break the threaded connection and to disengage the peripheral outer surface of the conicalshaped member from the set concrete.

Whereas, in the earlier form of my wire tie, even though the conically shaped members thereof were hydrogen brazed to the rod of the outer tie rod, there were structural failures partly due to the method of fabrication and also because of the greater surface area of the conically shaped member over the improved construction of this invention. By cold forging or upsetting the integrally upset portion 19, the surface is compacted, particularly when cold rolled stock is used, so that there is a relatively highly polished finish which further reduces the co-efiicient or friction between the surface of the conically shaped member which is the peripheral surface of the counterbore 22 and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrically shaped upset portion 19. It is also within the scope of the invention that, if desired, the outer tie rods 20 since they may be used over and over, may be plated with a hard-wearing surface with respect to that of the conically shaped member 21, such as chromium or cadmium to prevent rusting and also to reduce the co-efficient of friction on the conically shaped portion 21. If desired, the inner cylindrical surface 22 of the conically shaped member and that of the integrally upset portion 19 may also be suitably plated with a hard-wearing surface. If it is desired to have a harder surface on the peripheral face of the outer conically shaped member 21, this member may be case-hardened to a suitable depth and to a suitable hardness. This also applies to the surface of the counterbore 22 and likewise to the peripheral surface of the upset member 19, and also a contiguous portion of the rod to that of the upset portion 19 may be case-hardened to a suitable depth and to a suitable hardness.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of improved form of swivel wire tie is illustrated, and since the upset outer ends are identical with the swivel wire of FIGS. 3 and 4, like reference characters will indicate the same or similar parts, and in view of the previous description, further description with respect to the structure of FIGS. 5 and 6 is believed unnecessary. Also with respect to the swivelling conically shaped member, as certain features are substantially the same and only as the integrally upset portion of the modified form of FIGS. 5 and 6 is substantially of a different shape from that of the structure of FIGS. 3 and 4, similar reference characters will indicate the same or similar parts. This is also true of the modified form of the conically shaped member, the difference being with respect to the complementally formed peripheral surfaces of the upset portion of the outer tie rod and the complementally formed surface of the conically shaped portion. The inner upset portion 19 of the modified outer tie rod 20' is integrally forged or upset in any suitable upsetting machine or forging device as described with reference to the upset portion 19 of the structure of FIGS. 3 and 4, and the length of the swaged or upset portion 19' is preferably long and the inner end tapers from the diameter of the outer tie rod outwardly to substantially %6" in diameter so that the outer tie rod will resist five thousand pounds pressure in detaching the outer tie rod from the tie rod and the concrete of the conically shaped member 21. The conically shaped member 21 is formed by machining, or the like, forging or upsetting to the shape shown so that the conically shaped member has the inner conically shaped opening 22' complementally formed to the outer conically shaped upset portion 19' of the outer tie rod. Although the outer end of the outer tie rod 20 may be forged first, after which, the conically shaped member 21 may be placed in position and slid back along the rod and then the upset portion 19' formed in a suitable heading operation or the like. It is also possible to first form the upset portion 19 and assemble thereto the conically shaped member 21' and thereafter form the forged outer end for the wrench. The annular portion 25 is then formed as described with respect to the extended dotted portion 23 of FIGS. 3 and 4 to provide the annular portion 25 with the opening 43. The thickness of the annular portion 25 is three thirtyseconds of an inch and the distance between the inner end of the upset portion, both of the structure of 19 of FIGS. 3 and 4 and that of 19' of FIGS. 5 and 6 is'onethirty-second of an inch, allowing sufficient axial play. Also the diameter of the opening 43 is such as to.re ceive the diameter of the inner tie rod 15 and is preferably five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter minus 0.00 inch to plus 0.015 inch of tolerance.

The integral upset portion 19' may also be formed from the material forming the hole 27' which is later drilled and tapped to provide the threaded holes 26 for receiving the threaded end 18 of the inner tie rod 15. The conically shaped member 21' may be suitably heat treated or case hardened as described with reference to the conically shaped member 21 of the structure of FIGS. 3 and 4 and likewise the upset portion 19' may also be suitably heat treated or case hardened as the member 19. Similarly the members 19 and 21' may also be suitably plated to increase the wear of the outer tie rod. Since the modified form of the outer tie rod 20 is similarly assembled to the form construction and wedge members 32 as described with respect to the outer tie rod 20 of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, further disclosure of the assembly of the modified form of outer tie rods 20' of P165. and 6 need not be further stated.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, there is illustrated still another embodiment of a swivel wire tie construction of my invention in which the shape thereof is substantially similar to that as disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 579,198 filed April 19, 1956 with the exception, however, that a portion thereof may swivel with respect to the remainder of the conically shaped portion which is also of relatively smaller shape than the conically shaped members 21 and 21 described with reference to the constructions of FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIGS. 5 and 6. As the outer upset end of the outer tie rod 20 is fabricated in the same manner as that of my co-pending application Serial No. 579,198, and as described with reference to the modifications of FIGS. 3 and 4, and 5 and 6 of this application, further description is believed unnecessary. The particular length from the annular face 41 to the inner end 42 is one and onehalf inches for the size of the rod being described. The maximum diameter of the annular face 41 of this embodiment is seven-eighths of an inch, the same as the other previously described embodiments. The thickness of the substantially spherical-shaped or conically shaped head 56 of the conically shaped member 21" is 7 to the junction 57. The radius of curvature of the generated arcuate surface 58 is with the center of the radius curvature located on the surface 41. The outer tie rod 20" is provided with a reduced portion 59 to provide an annular groove 60 to receive the annular ring portion 56 as the depth of this annular groove is such as to prevent the annular ring portion 56 from pulling out under the pressure of withdrawal of the outer tie rod from the concrete. It is preferred to form the annular ring portion 56 from bar stock or it may be formed from extruded metal, coiled to shape and split substantially the shape shown in FIG. 9 after which the annular ring portion 56 is closed in place so that the ends of the rings 61 take the position as shown in FIG. 8. Clearance is left between the opening 62 in the open position of the annular ring of FIG. 9 so that in the closed position thereof, as shown in FIG. 8, the annular ring will swivel on the outer tie rod. The diameter of the tapered portion at the junction thereof at 57 with the conical surface of the annular ring 56 is within the range from substantially 0.447" to 0.441". The diameter of the inner end 42' varies within the range 0.432 to 0.438". This conically shaped member 21" is preferably formed by a cold heading operation or by any other suitable upsetting or forging operation to the required shape and preferably integral with the inner end of the tie rod. Similarly, the hole 27" may be formed in the same operation to a particular size to utilize the metal thereof for assisting in the upsetting of the head 21", after which the opening may be drilled to size to be later tapped or threaded to receive the double lead thread 13 of the inner tie rod 15. Similarly, this modification may be suitably heat treated, case hardened or plated as previously described above with respect to the other embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 10, there is disclosed another embodiment of my improved form of swivel wire tie rod construction. Similarly as the previous embodiments, the outer end of the outer tie rod 20a is formed as disclosed and claimed in my aforementioned co-pending application Serial No. 579,198 and need not be further described. The inner end of the swivel tie rod 20a is formed with an integral upset portion 19a somewhat similar to that of the upset portion 19 of FIGS. 3 and 4. Therefore, like reference characters will indicate the same or similar parts. In the embodiment of FIG. 10,

however, the upset portion 19a is of sufiicient crosssectional area that the conical-shaped member 21a may be assembled in place or detached from the outer tie rod 20a, over the upset portion of the outer end of the outer tie rod. With this construction, the outer end and inner end of the outer tie rod may be formed without the need of first assembling the conical-shaped member 21a in place before finally upsetting one or the other ends of the outer tie rods to retain the conical-shaped member in position as shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 7, 8 and 9. The relative length of the conical-shaped member 21a and the upset end portion 19a is substantially the same as that described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, and 7, 8 and 9. However, the diameter of the annular face 41a is slightly larger to permit the conical-shaped member 21a to be detached or attached over the outer end of the outer tie rods.

The uset portion 19:! is upset to the shape as shown in FIG. 8 and may be either finally upset to the final shape or upset and finally machined to the shape as shown so that it has a filleted juncture 63 and an end portion 64 of larger diameter than the intermediate portion. Annular grooves 65 and 66 are formed in the upset portion 19a and 64 to detachably receive the spring ring 67 in the groove 65 and an O-ring 68 in the annular groove 66. It is within the scope of the invention that both the annular rings 65 and 66 may be O-rings made either of rubber or other synthetic material, though it is preferred that the O-ring 66 shall be formed of rubber to prevent moisture from leaking in and rusting the conical shaped member 21a to the integraly upset portion 19a. The annular ring 67 may be either a split ring or an O-ring, and an annular groove 69 is formed in the portion 56a so that a sharp edged tool may be used to pry out the O-ring or spring ring 67.

With this embodiment it is possible to periodically detach the conical-shaped member 21a for replacement and repair, and to also suitably oil the surface 22a to permit the swivelling of the conically shaped member 21a upon the upset portion 19a. With this construction, it is also possible to permit modification of the outer tie rod 20a so that a modified outer tie rod may be had which will provide an enlarged opening in the set concrete by a still larger conical-shaped member 21a so that a smaller conical-shaped member 21a may be detached, if desirable, in the opening left by the larger conically shaped member. This is of value, for example, in attaching jack ties and the like as disclosed in the aforementioned co-pending application Serial No. 579,198, filed April 19, 1956.

Although the embodiment of FIG. 10 permits the detachment of the conical-shaped member 21a for replacement, repair and oiling, the other embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4, FIGS. 5 and 6 and FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 may also be suitably oiled, or the bearing surfaces suitably graphite-coatecl to permit free swivelling of the conically shaped members on the outer tie rod.

Suitable materials for making the detachable or swivelling cone construction of the outer tie rod of this invention may be ordinary screw stock and if made of screw stock should be case hardened (file hard) for a depth of 0.005-0.007". If the conical-shaped members are to be made of .1035 teel, of which it is preferred to make the outer tie rod, the conical shaped member and the rod are preferably heat-treated to a Rockwell hardness of 30-40.

It is thus evident that a simple wire tie construction has been formed in which the conical-shaped member swivels so that less torque is required in detaching the outer tie rod from the set concrete, and also the tie rod construction is such that there is no break-off loss and in which the swivelling outer tie rods may be used over and over again so that there is a substantial saving in replacement costs as only the inner tie rods are lost or remain with- 4 13 in the wall. 'It is also obvious that there has been provided an improved wire tie construction having a swivelling outer wire tie in which there is provided a five thousand pound working load wire tie at substantially less than one-half the cost of the usual three thousand pound wire ties commercially available by only having the inside tie rods to replace.

There is also described an improved swivelling wire tie or waler rod construction which requires less than three complete turns for removal of the outer rods from the inner'rods, in which there is rapid adjustment without the use of a wrench or other tool; in which there is exact spacing of the sheathing for the wall thickness desired, and in which the personal element is removed in the setting of the wedges which are used with this outer wire tie, construction, the wedges being particularly disclosed and claimed in the aforementioned co-pending applications. It is to be understood that for diiferent thicknesses of wall, different sizes of inner tie rods are only needed and the outer tie rods remain the same when conventional size' lumber is used for the sheathing, studding and walers providing the forms.

It is also to be understood that although the inner tie rods have been described with reference to wire stock and the outer rods described with reference to substantially /-i stock, it is within the scope of the invention that any size rods may be used, depending on the size of the wall and form construction to be assembled.

It is also evident that there has been described a form tie construction which provides a five thousand pound working load wire tie rod at less than one-half the cost of three thousand pound wire tie rods on the market, and in which the inner rods require only one-tenth of the normal storage space and approximately one-half of the normal shipping weight of the usual three thousand pound wire tie as a comparative example.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An outer wire tie rod construction for detachably affixing to an inner wire tie rod construction and adapted for assembling studding, sheathing, waler members and a wedge and wrench member of the concrete form construction together, said outer wire tie rod comprising means for forming a conically shaped opening in poured and set concrete, said means for forming the conically shaped opening comprising a cone-shaped member, integrally formed means from the outer tie rod providing an integrally upset portion for operatively mounting the conical-shaped member thereon, said conically shaped member complementally formed with respect to the integrally upset portion of the outer tie rod, whereby the conically shaped means is swivelly mounted with respect to the integrally formed upset portion of the outer tie rod about the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal tie rod, an inner end of the conical-shaped member contiguous to an inner end of the outer tie rod complementally formed with respect to the inner end of the outer tie rod for affixing the conical-shaped member to the inner end of the outer tie rod, said outer tie rod complementally formed at the inner end thereof for detachably receiving the inner tie rod, and said means for aflixing the conical-shaped member of the outer tie rod complementally formed to the outer periphery of the inner tie rod so that the outer tie rod may be detachably affixed to the inner tie rod.

2. An outer wire tie rod construction for a concrete form construction including an inner wire tie rod, said outer tie rod construction comprising a conical memv a t i 14 ber, said conical member inner end of the outer tie rod, complementally formed means on the conical member and the inner end of the outer tie rod restraining the outer axial movement of the conical member with respect to the longitudinal axis of the outer tie rod, and complementally formed means on the conical member and the outer tie rod preventing inner axial movement of the conical member with respect to the longitudinal axis of the outer tie rod and also permitting the conical member to rotate relative to the inner end of the outer tie rod about the longitudinal axis thereof.

3. A reusable outer wire tire for aconcrete form construction including an inner wire tie rod, said outer wire tie rod construction including an integrally formed upset conical-shaped end with the smaller end of the frustum of the conical-shaped end substantially equal to the diameter of the outer tie rod and the inner end of the conical-shaped end being larger in diameter than the outer end thereof, a conical member complementally formed to the frustum of the cone upset upon the inner end of the outer tie rod, said conical-shaped member extending beyond the inner end of the outer tie rod and adapted to form an annular portion providing an annular opening, and the annular portion limiting the outward movement of the conical member with respect to the outer tie rod yet permitting rotary motion with respect to the axis of the outer tie rod, said complementally formed upset portion of the outer tie rod and the similar portion of the conical member restraining the inner movement of the conical member with respect to the outer tie rod but permitting rotating and swivelling thereon, and said upset portion of the outer tie rod complementally threaded to receive the threaded end of the inner tie rod through the opening formed by the annular portion of the conical member. 7

4. A reusable outer tie rod construction for a concrete form construction including an inner tie rod, said outer wire tie rod comprising an integrally formed upset conically shaped end portion, an annular groove formed from the outer tie rod contiguous to the conically shaped upset portion, an annular-shaped member operatively mounted in the annular groove and completing the conically shaped upset portion of the outer tie rod for forming an opening in poured and set concrete with which the outer tie rod is used, and said annular shaped member operatively mounted within the annular groove permitting said outer tie rod to swivel with respect to the annular shaped member in the detachment of the outer tie rod from an inner tie rod wherein the poured and set concrete restrains the outer movement of the outer tie rod in the detachment thereof from the inner tie rod.

5. A reusable outer wire tie rod for a concrete form construction including sheathing and an inner wire tie rod, said outer wire tie rod comprising a conical-shaped member operatively mounted on the inner end of the outer wire tie rod permitting swivelling of the conical-shaped member with respect to the outer tie rod, complementally formed means on the outer tie rod at the inner end thereof and the conical-shaped member restraining longitudinal movement of the conical-shaped member with respect to the outer tie rod in one direction, and annular means including a groove formed contiguous to the outer face of the conical-shaped member which is adapted to abut the sheathing for the concrete form construction for restraining the outer movement of the conical-shaped member complementally formed to an threaded end of the inner wire tie rod, a conically shaped member complementally formed to the upset portion of the inner end of the outer wire tie rod, complementally formed means on the conical shaped member and the upset portion of the inner end of the outer wire tie rod limiting the axial movement of the conical shaped member with respect to the outer tie rod and permitting the conical-shaped member to swivel with respect to the outer wire tie rod, annular means operatively mounted on the outer wire tie rod limiting the outer movement of the conical-shaped portion and adapted for attaching and detaching the conical-shaped member to the outer wire tie rod at the outer end of the wire tie rod, and said conical-shaped member including a reduced frustum of a cone and an annular portion adapted to abut a face of the sheathing to which the outer wire tie rod is assembled in the concrete form construction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 868,067 Berry Oct. 15, 1907 10 Hudgin Nov. 25, Willard June 9, Williams Mar. 29, Arenz July 5, Graham June 26, Kemper Feb. 5, Hungerford Dec. 7, Hungerford Aug. 8, Williams Feb. 20, Kinninger June 17, Colt Ian. 13, Kinninger Feb. 27, Friedman Nov. 18, Hattan Mar. 22, McDaniel Aug. 26, Williams Feb. 22, McLaughlin Dec. 25, Krueper Jan. 22,

FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Sept. 4, 

